I don’t usually talk about health products on my site. My general approach to health and well being is (e-hem) slightly old fashioned. I’m one of those people who, based on their own experience, believes good health comes from quality food, clean air, exercise, sunshine and good lifestyle decisions, not a pills, products or medicine!
But this summer, I hit an issue that required something more than my healthy lifestyle could give. And I’m here tell you all about it!
It Began With Too Many Rounds of Antibiotics
If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you know I’ve been having issues with my teeth. The situation is complicated, so I’ll just summarize it by saying I chose two bad dentists, back to back!
Due to infections and inflammation, I’ve been on antibiotics too many times over the past several years.
And the last time they tried to put me on, I refused because of my stomach. But I’m getting ahead of myself now. Let me tell you the whole story.
The Degression of My Stomach and Gut
Several years ago, I had to go on antibiotics for a tooth infection. It wasn’t anything complicated, but the dentist said I had to bring the swelling down so they could work on me and fix the problem.
I obeyed, the dentist worked on me and all was good, other than a sore stomach (which slowly healed itself over the next several months).
But about a year later another infection flared up. I was once again put on antibiotics to control inflammation. Not too long after, I had another infection and yet another round of pills. And another.
The Symptoms That Developed
By this time I’d done 4 rounds of antibiotics. My stomach often bothered me. Sometimes, I skipped eating supper with my man because if I consumed food after 3pm, my insides would ache and hurt all evening.
It wasn’t pleasant but it was bearable, and I thought things would eventually improve as they had before.
But things didn’t improve. Soon, I had to start cutting tomato products, acidic fruits, all dairy, grains and wheat products from my diet due to stomach pain.
When I did have it, gluten began affecting me strangely. Within 12 hours of consuming our home milled, whole wheat flour, I would become irritable, edgy, weepy and was overwhelmed by the tiniest little things! I couldn’t think and sometimes, I felt like I was going to lose my mind!
My man could tell whether or not I’d had grain, based on the moodiness that came over me. The fact that he saw the pattern help confirm it wasn’t just my imagination, that there was a real problem developing in my body.
We had to do something about it.
But Probiotics Didn’t Work for Me
You might be wondering why I didn’t go on probiotics during this time? Well, I did. I tried the best and most expensive options we could find in local (and surrounding) health food stores.
But they just didn’t work for me. More than once I forced my way through bottles of these expensive, refrigerated pills, and they left me feeling gross all over.
I didn’t need more discomfort in my life at the time and seeing as the probiotics didn’t help anyway, I quit taking them. But when I had to start eliminating foods from my diet and became so reactive to gluten content, my man and I realized I was headed down a slippery slope. And the problem couldn’t be ignored any longer.
Discovery of JUST THRIVE Probiotic
My man and I turned to online sources. After doing some research, we made a discovery that left us feeling hopeful. It was a spore-based probiotic that wasn’t dependent on refrigeration to keep the good bacteria alive.
Refrigerated probiotics never made sense to me, because my stomach certainly isn’t the temperature of a refrigerator! And if warm temperatures killed the good bacteria…well. What were the chances of it reaching my colon alive and helping repopulate the good bacteria there?
But finally, we found a well researched, shelf-stable probiotic that made sense. And better yet? It was a non GMO product that was dairy, soy, gluten and sugar free!
We also discovered that unlike many other companies who create “health” products, Just Thrive has done (and continues to do) human testing and studies with their products. As an individual who takes health seriously, I liked this.
It seemed like top quality product and so, we decided to give it a try!
How I Approached the Probiotics
Having health issues over the past 10+ years has taught me a thing or two. I’ve learned that I usually do best with a new product if I take one half of the recommended adult dose. And this probiotic was no exception!
When it arrived in the mail, a full dose proved to be too much. This probiotic didn’t make me feel gross like others had done, but it was making me feel bloated (sorry if that’s TMI). So I backed off and took the full dose every other day. And that was sustainable.
That’s what I’m primarily doing, even today.
The Results of JUST THRIVE Probiotics
I had been on Just Thrive’s probiotic for 6-8 weeks when I suddenly realized my evening stomach pain was gone. Once again, I was sharing the supper meal with my man and there was no throbbing, aching sensation in my stomach afterward.
And that’s when I first knew the probiotic was doing something for me!
About 16 weeks in, I tried consuming our home milled flour again. And know what? I didn’t lose my mind. Not that day or the next! As a test, I consumed grain several times, back to back. Nothing went wacky in my body.
Hallelujah!
My relief was immense. Finally, my body was healing itself!
How to Source JUST THRIVE’S Probiotic
I’m sharing this with you not because I want to talk about my miseries, but because I know some of you are struggling with gut health and, like me, have been looking for a good, family probiotic (yes, it’s safe for children and even infants in smaller doses!).
If you need help healing your stomach and are having bowel issues, I think this product is definitely worth a try! At least I’m very hopeful for you!
Knowing that many companies offer affiliate opportunities to bloggers and then also a discount to their readers, I looked to see if Just Thrive had one? If so, I was going to join and get you a discount for your first purchase!
I applied, got approved, then requested and was granted a 15% discount for my readers!
If you would like to try Just Thrive’s probiotic, click this link and use the code TRADITIONALHOME for 15% off when you make your first purchase!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Where I’m At Now
At this point in time, I’ve been on the probiotic for over 20 weeks. My stomach still isn’t completely healed, nor would I expect it to be. After several years of degression, it’s going to take at least of year of probiotics to restore things to a semi-normal state.
For the next 7+ months, I’m going to (mostly) avoid the foods that were previously bothering my stomach. According to my independent research, this will help speed the healing process. I’m eager to return to my normal self!
Best of luck and if you have any question, please send them my way!
Wishing you well,
Autumn
P.S. I highly recommend you listen to this podcast episode where Katie of wellnessmama.com interviews one of the founders of Just Thrive products.
Leave a Reply